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Benitez shares what it is like working with Duncan Ferguson
Rafa Benitez has revealed that working with Everton hero Duncan Ferguson since he arrived at Goodison Park has not always been easy.
The Spaniard joined the Toffees in the summer following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, and while he brought his backroom staff with him, the former Blues striker is one of those he has worked with given his knowledge of the club.
Benitez initially found it challenging getting along with Ferguson, but he has told the ECHO that things have gotten better of recent and the Scot has been very helpful.
The 61-year-old said: “Sometimes I understand Duncan, sometimes it is not easy.
“In the beginning, I went ‘Oooof’ but little by little, it got better. I remember him as a player from the year of Villarreal, and I have watched his goals and he was a great player.
“He helps us with his knowledge about players and his ideas. My first idea was to have meetings with all of the departments and he was one of the key interviews because he gave you honest opinions on all of the players and everything. It was helpful.”
Influential
There were calls for Ferguson to be made Everton manager when Ancelotti left given his experience working in the position in an interim role and as part of the backroom staff of the Italian, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva and Ronald Koeman.
Big Dunc has been part of the Toffees’ coaching set-up since 2014, and Benitez knew he was always going to benefit from his influence on the players and staff.
Despite finding it initially difficult to understand him, the Spaniard is getting to know him better, and both will continue working together to help guide the side into Europe.
Ferguson is a big part of the squad, and he definitely is learning a lot working with the boss.
It remains to be seen if he will become a permanent manager at Goodison Park someday, but the experience he has garnered over the years will surely come in handy should he find himself calling the shots at the club or elsewhere in the future.
In other Everton news, Toffees ace has said he’s coming back after injury issues.
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